Start of the Environmental Trail at Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park

Length: 1.3-mile loop
Time: 40 minutes
Difficulty: Easy

The Environmental Trail is a nature trail located next to the picnic area at the Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park Visitor Center. There are nine stops along the trail with wayside exhibits that discuss the surrounding environment. If you have small children or cannot walk the more rigorous trails in the park, this is the trail for you.

Nature-oriented wayside exhibit along the Environmental Trail at Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park

The trail starts off on a 100-yard segment before coming to the actual loop portion of the hike. A sign at the intersection directs hikers to go right and proceed around the loop in the counterclockwise direction. This is what I did, and this report is written from that perspective.

Start of the loop portion of the Environmental Trail at Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park

In addition to the nature-oriented wayside exhibits, there are signs marking the position of troop units during the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain. Blue signs are for Union troops and gray for Confederates.

Sign along the Environmental Trail marking Union troop positions during the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain, Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park

By hiking in the counterclockwise direction, you are first hiking on the western side of the loop, and for the most part, the trail is wide and the surface is largely free of rocks and roots. The terrain is slightly hilly, but no hills on the entire trail pose a problem for anyone who can walk. Even the steepest can be scaled in a matter of seconds.

Typical terrain on the western side of the Environmental Trail loop at Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park

A third of a mile into the hike is the intersection with the 24-Gun Battery Trail. This is another easy hike—even easier than the Environmental Trail in my opinion—that passes the spot where Union troops placed 24 cannon aimed at the Confederates on Kennesaw Mountain, Little Kennesaw Mountain, and Pigeon Hill. There are four actual cannon marking the general locations of the batteries. This is an out-and-back trail with a round-trip distance of 2.4 miles. If you are looking for a longer hike, add this to your itinerary and do it now, otherwise continue straight / left on the Environmental Trail.

Intersection of the Environmental and 24-Gun Battery trails, Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park

While the western side of the Environmental Trail is easy to hike, there are a few patches of roots on the surface, not to mention plenty of rocks on the eastern side, so don’t plan to push a baby stroller along the trail.

Typical terrain on the west side of the Environmental Trail at Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park

The eastern side of the trail is a little rougher. It starts out on a ridge up above a small creek, then veers away after a short while and heads uphill for a quarter mile, though again, the incline is not particularly noteworthy. Most of the time the trail surface is smooth, but there are also some extremely rocky sections on this side.

Rocky terrain on the west side of the Environmental Trail at Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park

After 1.25 mile of hiking, you will be back at the start of the loop. Take a right to return to the Visitor Center.

Environmental Trail ends back at the Visitor Center Picnic Area at Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park

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